Automatic grinding machine



L. A. SORBY.

AUTOMATIC'GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I4, 1920.

Patented Sept. ,5, 1922.

A11 ys.

ciprocatingmotion to the valve lifting lever showing the yielding point for introducing lost motion, and a plan view of the upper portion of said rod, the rocker connection between the rod and the lever being omitted.

The machine illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a base 1 havlng a forwardly extending bed 2 provided with a downwardly extending boss 3 which forms a journal for the stem 4 of a rotatable table 5 which forms a support for the valve seat.

he rotatable'table is provided with a pair of slides 6 having V-shaped seats 7 and clamping jaws 8 adapted to engage the valve body, said jaws being actuated by means ofa rod 9 extending diametrically across the rotatable table 5 and journalled in. a bearing 10 in the center of said table; said rod '9' having its end portions provided with'right and left hand screw threads 11 to operate the slides 6., The valve casing, therefore, may be placed upon the V-shaped seats 7 and by turning the screw 9 clamped between the jaws 8 upon the slide so that the axis of the valve seat will. be directly over'the axis of the stem- 4 of the rotatable supporting table 5.

Suitable means are provided for rotating the table 5. As illustrated herein, such means comprise an annular rack 12 which is secured with the underside of they table adjacent its periphery and which meshes with a beveled gear .13 carried by a driving shaft 14 journalled in suitable bearing in the base 1 and actuated by a pulley 15 or other driving mechanism.

A standard 16, preferably integral with the base. rises vertically therefrom and is provided at its upper end with a laterally extending arm which is located axially above the rotating table and serves as a guide for the valve suspending and reciprocating mechanism.

The head as illustrated herein comprises two enlarged bosses 18having squared inner walls 19 which provide ways for the reciprocating guide block 20 of the valve suspend ing'means, the bosses 18 being spaced. apart a sufficient distance to provide room for the mechanism which reciprocates said guide block. The sides of the guide block are slotted to present a pair of bosses 21 to engage the forked. end 22 of'an actuating lever 23 which is pivotally mounted upon a suitable cross bar or shaft 24 extending through the arm of the machine. The guide block 20 is provided with a vertical bore 25 toreceive a suspension bar 28 which preferably is in the form of a rack 26.

The guide block 20 is also provided with a vertical slot 27 forming a way for a key extending rearwardly from the back portion of the suspension rod or rack bar 28. The front portion .of the guide block desirably is thus formed with a pair of ears 29, in which 17 terminating in a head.

a rod 30 is journalled which forms the shaft of a gear 31, which meshes with the rack 26. The hub of a hand wheel 32 is secured to said gear and when rotated actuates the gear to raise and lower the rack in an obvious manner.

The rod 30 is provided with a nut 33 having a handle 34 by means of which the ears 29 may be drawn together so as to clamp the suspension rod in any adjusted position.

Suitable means are provided for suspends ing a valve from the suspension rod or rack 26, means forming a universal joint being interposedv between the valve and the suspending rack 26,

In the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein a reliever is also in troduced in the suspension means which will serve to raise the valve from the valve seat if the same becomes jammed. The reliever comprises a cap 35 having an upwardly extending boss 36 provided with a tapered socket to receive the tapered lower end of the suspension rack 26 and is secured to said rack by a tapered pin 37. The cap 35 has a downwardly extending flange 38 within which is seated a head 39 having a pair of oppositely disposed'recesses 40 therein. The springs 41 are located in said recesses and engage at one end the end Walls of the recesses and at their opposite ends engage plugs 42 which are secured to the cap 35. These springs act normally to retain the head in a predetermined position.

The head is provided with laterally extending members which preferably are in the form of rods 43 which extend through oppositely disposed cam slots 44 in the cap and normally hold the head in a depressed position. When, however, any considerable resistance is offered to the rotation of the suspending means the springs 41 will permit the head to yield rotatably, thereby causing the rods 43 to ride up the inclined walls of the cam slots 44 thereby raising the lower section of the suspending means and-freeing the valve from itsseat.

Preferably the rods 43 are provided with handles 45 by means of which the head can be readily rotated.

The universal connection between the re,- liever and the valve disclosed in the accompanying drawing, comprises a pair of knuckles havin their axes positioned normal to each ot er, the lowermost of said knuckles having means for supporting the valve.

As disclosed herein the upper knuckle comprises a member having a ball shaped head 46 provided with a tapered stem 47 which extends into a tapered socket in the head 39 and is secured therein by a suitable tapered pin. The upper end of the stem 47 is made of cylindrical form and is slidably mounted in. a suitable socket in the cap 35.

' These sections are provided This stem desirably is provided at its upper end with a socket in which is seated a spring L8 which engages at its upper end the lower end of the rack bar 26. The spring 48 serves normally to force the head 39 downwardly thereby returning it to its normal position after it has been raised by the action of the cams 44-. during the rotating movement of the reliever head 39.

The ball shaped head 46 is embraced by a casing comprising complementary vertical sections 459 having ground sockets which fit nicely upon the ball shaped head 46, the sections 19 being provided with flanges connected by well fitted machine bolts in reamed holes. By using shims between the flanges means may be provided for adjustingthe sections of the knuckle to take up wear. A pin 50 extending transversely through suitable bosses in the sections a9 and through a slot in the ball shaped head 4:6 serves to prevent rotation of the flanged sections about the vertical axis of the knuckle, while permitting an oscillation of the knuckle in one vertical plane.

The lower ends of the sections as are provided with downwardly extending bosses presenting a tapered recesswhich receives the tapered upper end 51 of a second knuckle member having a complementary knuckle member comprises a two-part casing, preferably divided in a horizontal plane, the upper section 53 thereof embracing the upperportion of the ball shaped head 52, while the lower portion 5a is provided with a socket to receive the lower part of the ball shaped head 52. with suitable horizontal flanges 55 which are connected together by bolts 56 and may be provided with shims of the character above described. The lower section 5a of the lower knuckle is provided with a downwardly extending member or boss 57 having a central aperture 58 to receive the end of the valve to be ground, clamping screws 59, preferably four in number, being provided to engage the valve stem and center the same properly axially of said suspension means.

A pin 60, extending transversely through the socket. oi the lower knuckle and through suitable slots in the head 52, servesto prevent horizontal rotation of the lower section at of the knuckle upon the ball shaped member. while permitting the knuckle to swing laterally through a vertical plane.

The axes of the pins 50 and 60 are normal to each other, thusproviding a universal connection between the suspension rod and the valve which will enable the valve automatically to position itself axially within the valve seat.

It is desirable that the valve shall engage the valve seat at a limited pressure. Consequently, means have been provided for suspending member,

.nism illustrated ball shaped head 52. The

ferent sizes and of and provided with counter-balancing the weight of the valve and the valve suspending means. I

As illustrated herein the cap 35 of the reliever is provided with an upwardly extending boss 61 to which is secured a flexible such as a rope or chain 62, which passes over a pulley 63 in the front end of the arm 17 thence over a pillley 6d at the upper end of the standard andis connected at its lower end to a counterweight 65 which is so constructed that removable weights 66 may be placed thereupon, or removed therefrom, to vary the weight of the counter-balance. By reason of this construction any desired pressure may be applied to the reciprocating movement of-the valve as it is permitted to descend in its reciprocating movement under the influence of gravity.

Any suitable means may be provided for raising the suspending means to produce the reciprocating movement. In the mechaherein the lever 2a is actuated through a rod 6'1 slidably journalled in bosses 68 projecting from the rear side of the standard 16, the rod 67 being actuated through a pitman 69 provided with an eccentric strap 70 which embraces a suitable eccentric 71 keyed upon the driving shaft 14., a

It is desirable in grinding valves of difdiiierent character that means may be provided for varying the amplitude of reciprocating of the valve relatively to the rotating valve casing. This is accomplished in the present embodiment of the invention by providing means arrestingthe amplitude ofv oscillation of the lever and for introducing 'lost motion in the connection between the rod 67 and the end of the lever 23. a

The means for adjusting the amplitude of oscillation of the lever, which isillustrated herein, comprises a stop screw 7 2 which extends downwardly through the upper wall of the arm 17 and which is provided with a lock nut 7 3 for securing the same in adjusted position. This stop screw lies in the path of the end portion of the lever 23 and limits its upward movement, consequently determining the limit of downward movement of the valve suspending means.

The rod 67 is bifurcated at itsupper end a transverse pin 74: upon which is journalled a rocker 75 which engages the upper edge of the lever 23. The lower edge of the lever 23 engages the,up-' per end of a pin 7 6 which is loosely seated in a socket 77 in the upper end of a member 78 which is slidably mountedin a recess in the upper end of the rod 67. A spring 79 seated in said recess forces the blockupwardly so that the pin 7 6 is yieldably retained in engagement with thelever 23. 'When, therefore, the stop screw 72 is so adjusted asto engage the lever 23 before therod 67:has

Cir

reached the limit of its reciprocating movcment, the pin 76 will yield thereby introduc ing the necessary lost motion between the lever and the rod 67 to permit the desired amplitude of reciprocation of the valve suspending means.

In the operation of the machine the valve seat is clamped upon the table 5 and is rotated continuously by the revolution of the table 5 which is driven through the driving shaft 14. The driving shaft at the same time actuates the eccentric 71 which, through the pitman 69, reciprocates the rod 6? thereby oscillating the lever 3 wh'ch serves to raise the valve suspending means and thereby raise the valve from the valve seat. The downward movement, however, of the valve suspending means is produced by gravity.

and the force of engagement of the valve with the valve seat may be adjusted by varying the counter-Weight.

If too great force is applied to the valve as it is dropped into the valve seat the head of the reliever will be rotated against the force of the spring ll and acting through the cams 44 will serve to raise the valve from the valve seat and prevent the same from becoming jammed. If, for any reason, animing occurs the reliever can be operated manually, the handles 45 supplying sufllcient leverage to enable the valve to be read ily released from engagement witi its seat.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is illustrative and is not restrictive and that various modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It will also be understood that while the mechanism is disclosed herein as compri ing rotatable means for supporting the valve seat and reciprocating means for suspending the valve, that the casing may be supported by the reciprocating means and the valve rotated, or that one of the parts may be maintained stationary while the other part is given a combined rotating and reciprocating movement within the meaning and scope of the following claims.

It will also be understood that the inven tion may be employed in. various other relations in grinding, as for example, in lap ping and grinding surface plates in which case the adjusting screw 73 may be so positioned as to eliminate the vertical movement of the grinding member or to reciprocate such movement to very short reciprocation so that the grinding member will act properly upon the surface being ground or lapped.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing and means for continuously rotating the same in one direction, a support for t g machine comprising a support "for a valve casing, a yieldable support for the valve and means for imparting relative rotary and reciprocating movements to said valve casing and said valve to effect a grinding movement between the walls of said valve and valve casing, and means for adjusting said rotatable means relative to each other.

41!. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for the valve casing and means for rotating the same, a yieldable support for the valve including a rack and pinion operable to adjust the valve reciprocating means relative to the support for said valve casing and means for locking said supporting means in adj ustec position. 7

5. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing and means for rotating the same, yieldable means for suspending the valve, means for reciprocating,

said valve suspending means to reciprocate said valve in said rotating valve casing and means for adjusting the amplitude of reciprocation of said valve suspending means.

6. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing and means for rotating the same, yieldable means for suspending the valve, means for reciprocating said valve suspending means to reciprocate said valve in said rotating valve casing, ineluding a lever, means for oscillating said lever and means for varying the amplitude of oscillation of said lever.

A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing and means for rotating the same, yieldable means for suspending the valve, means for reciprocating said valve suspending means to reciprocate said valve in said rotating valve casing, including a lever, means for oscillating said lever, an adjustable stop positioned to engage said lever and limit the movement thereof, and means for introducing lost motion between said lever reciprocating means and said lever.

reciprocating and 8. A valve grinding machine comprising said valve insaid rotating valve casing, including a lever, means for oscillating said lever, an adjustable stop positioned to engage said lever and limit the movement thereof, a spring actuated member intermediate of said lever reciprocating means and said lever adapted to yield when said lever engages said stop.

9. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing and means for rotating the same continuously in one direction, means for suspending the valve, means for partially balancing the weight oi said valve suspending means and valve and means for reciprocating said valve suspending means. i

10. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing and means for rotating the same, means for suspending the valve, a counterweight connected to said valve suspending means adapted partially to balance the weight of said valve suspending means and valve and means for reciproeating said valve suspending means.

11. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing and means for rotating the same continuously in one direction, means for suspending the valve including a universal connection adapted to insure axial movement of said valve relatively to the valve seat in said casing and means for reciprocating said valve.

12. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing, means for rotating the same, means for suspending the valve including a plurality of knuckles mounted respectively upon pivotal supports normal to each other, providing a universal connection adapted to insure axial movement of said valve relatively to the valve seat in said valve casing and means for reciprocating said valve.

18. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing, means for rotating the same, means for suspending the valve and automatically yieldable relieving means for preventing undue engagement between said valve and the valve seat in said valve casing.

14:. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing, means for rotating the same, means for suspending the valve and relieving means for preventing undue engagement between said valve and the valve seat in said valve casing, including a rotarily yieldable member and means operable upon rotation thereof to withdraw the valve from the valve seat.

15. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing, means for roand acting tating the same, means for suspending the valve and relieving means for preventlng undue engagement between said valve and the valve seat in said valve casing, comprising'a connection in said suspending means consisting of a chambered cap-having a cam in the wall thereof, a head ro'tatably mounted in said chamber having means engaging said cam, a spring in said chamber engaging said cap and said head acting normally to maintain the head in depressed position,

but yieldable upon rotation of said head to permit said cam to raise said head.

16. A valve grinding machine comprising a support for a valve casing, meansfor rotating the same,- means for suspending the valve and relieving means for preventing undue engagement between said valve and the valve seat in said valve casing, comprising a connection in said suspending means consisting of a chambered .cap having cam slots in the wall thereof, a head rotatably mounted in said chamber having arms extending through said cam slots to form manually operable handles, a spring in said chamber engaging said cap, and said head normally to maintain the head in depressed position, but yieldable upon rotation of said head to permit the cams to raise said head.

17. An automatic grinding machine comprising a work support, means for rotating the work support, means for supporting a cooperating grinding member including universal connections whereby the cooperating grinding member will be self-adjusting relatively to the Work.

18. An automatic. grinding machine comprising a work support,means for rotating the work support, means for supporting a cooperating grinding member including universal connections whereby the cooperating grinding member will be self-adjusting relatively to the work and means for reciprocating the cooperating grinding member toward and from the work.

19. A grinding machine r'or grinding one of two fitted members upon another, comprising means for rotating one of said members continuously in one direction, means for reciprocating the other member axially relatively thereto and suspending means having universal supporting means for one of said members adapted to permit self-adjustment of said members relative to each 11 other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LAWRENCE A. SORBY. 

